Diamond to quit Sale

SALE Sharks' assistant coach Steve Diamond is leaving the club to take up a coaching position with Saracens. The former Sale hooker, who came to the club as a youngster from Trafford Metrovicks, has accepted an offer to move to the London club at the start of next season.

SALE Sharks' assistant coach Steve Diamond is leaving the club to take up a coaching position with Saracens.

The former Sale hooker, who came to the club as a youngster from Trafford Metrovicks, has accepted an offer to move to the London club at the start of next season.

Steve Diamond said: I have spent my whole rugby life at Sale and have loved every minute of it.

"Although I was made an offer to stay, I felt that the time had come for me to take on a new challenge, and that my career would benefit from moving to a new club, a club with different challenges.

Honours

"However I must stress that while I remain in post at Sale Sharks for this season I will continue to give 100 per cent to the team.

"We still have a great chance of silverware in both the league and the Powergen Cup - nothing would please me more than being able to say goodbye by helping guide the team top their first major trophy."

Sale Sharks Chief Executive Niels de Vos said: Steve has developed into a fine coach during his three years at Sale in which time he has been instumental in transforming the club into a contender for honours.

"We have been in negotiations with Steve to retain his services as assistant to Jim Mallinder but he has clearly decided it is necessary for him to move on to another club in order to further his career - he will leave at the end of this season with our thanks for the contribution he has made at Sale Sharks both as a player and coach, and with our very best wishes for the future."